May 17, 2005

School budget and board elections today

This morning's Ithaca Journal has both an article and an editorial on the elections today for school boards and school budgets.

In the Dryden school district, four incumbents (Rachel Dickinson, Chris Gibbons, Karin LaMotte, Amanda Kittelberger) and two newcomers (Brad Rauch and Linnett Short) are vying for four seats. The budget up for a vote is $26.69 million, which includes a 7% budget increase and a less than 9% tax levy increase.

In the Ithaca School district, six newcomers (Tom Clavel, Allen Lambert, Craig Evans, Tom Frank, Beth Kunz, Seth Peacock) are running for three seats. The budget up for a vote is $82.76 million, which includes a 6.28% budget increase and a 4.32% tax levy increase.

Voting for the Dryden Central School District is from 7:00am to 9:00pm at the Middle School/High School auditorium.

Voting for the Ithaca City School District is from noon to 9:00pm, and location varies by where you live:

If you live in election district 1 or 5 (meaning you normally vote at Etna Fire Station), the parts of the Ithaca district east of Baker Hill Road, you vote at Northeast Elementary School (map).

If you live in election district 4, which includes Varna, Hanshaw Road from Ithaca to Route 13, and the area between Game Farm and Turkey Hill Roads, you vote at the Varna Community Center (map).

If you live in election district 8, the south side of Ellis Hollow Road over Snyder Hill to Route 79 and Bethel Grove (and normally vote at Bethel Grove Church), you vote at the Belle Sherman Annex (map).

If you live in election district 9, the north side of Ellis Hollow Road, Ellis Hollow Creek, Ringwood Road, and many other smaller roads there, then you vote at Caroline Elementary School (map).

Thanks to Jane Marie Law for that detailed breakdown.

Not sure what school district or election district you're in? This map (1.97MB PDF, alas) may help with school districts. The similar map for Ithaca School District election districts seems to be out of date, so it's probably best to look at the election district map for the town (598KB PDF) and correlate your district with the voting places given above.